In an accident for the first time, what next?

positivenote

So tonight I was I my first ever car accident and I'm wondering what happens next regarding insurance claims and effecting my No claims bonus? Here's what happened;

Driving in right hand lane of motorway lashing rain, the car in front jammed on breaks, I jammed on my brakes but car failed to stop and continued in to a skid, I then turned left to avoid rear ending the car in front of me.

My car impacted into the drivers side front door of the second car that was in the middle lane on my left. I was skidding for what seemed a fair bit so the impact wasn't huge in my opinion. My car spun to a halt. I then saw the two women from the second car get out of their car, which had driven up ahead to the hard shoulder, and approach me. They asked if I was okay.

I drove my car to the hard shoulder and walked up towards a third parson who had pulled over to lend assistance. I said to them I was a little bit shaken up and the driver of the other car said she had a sore shoulder. The Other women called the police whilst I was talking to the driver and the third chap.

We both sat in our cars and waited for the police. After a few mins I approached the second car to see how the driver was and she said that she didn't feel good and was feeling numb on her shoulder. They then said they had called an ambulance , not long after that the fire service arrived. Following this the driver was brought away in an ambulance on a spinal board. I exchanged details with the passenger and she went in the ambulance with the driver.

A fire officer suggested that I report it to the Garda locally as I could be waiting hours for them to arrive at the scene. i asked was the driver okay as I got a fright seeing her on the spinal board, but he said that they are required to do this procedure once they have complained of an injury.

I have yet to get through to my insurance but am a little as to what should do next?
Or what to expect over the next few days.
The damage to the cars wasn't that much to be honest, despite her car being towed she had already driven it further to the hard shoulder.

Anyway any opinion or advice would be welcomed

Cee-Jay-Cee

1. Report it to Gardai
2. Report it to your insurance.
3. Don't worry about it let the insurance companies sort it out amongst themselves.

Teddington Cuddlesworth

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

1. Report it to Gardai
2. Report it to your insurance.
3. Don't worry about it let the insurance companies sort it out amongst themselves.

Great advice.
Don't over think it OP, worrying can do no more other than ensure you don't sleep.

Hopefully the lady that was taken away on the spinal board is fine and it was just shock manifesting as numbness.
Worst case scenario is the insurance pay out to settle.

2forjoy

you will get an accident report form to fill in next week , so take photos of the spot and print to send in with this marking the cars and other details on it .

Any letters you receive in relation to this accident send them on to your insurance company

monkeysnapper

I'm no expert but my thoughts are same as above .

This is the real reason we pay insurance. Now let the insurance company deal with it and look after yourself and don't beat yourself up over it, it was an accident . It happens .

Good luck

positivenote

2forjoy wrote: »

so take photos of the spot and print to send in with this marking the cars and other details on it .

Any letters you receive in relation to this accident send them on to your insurance company

Thanks

It happened this evening, but I didn't take any photos of her car... but the damage seemed minimal and only to her drivers side door and wing, she continued to drive and pulled over to the safety of the hard shoulder.

Atlantic Dawn

While it's fresh in your mind write down as much about the accident as you can, maybe even draw a few pics of the crash positions of the cars before and after.

2forjoy

You dont need photos of the damage as the insurance may use an assessor to examine this

positivenote

Am I likely to loose my NCB and pay thousands in personal damage? I haven't admitted responsibility to anyone as I would say it was the conditions and the jamming on of the car in front of me that caused me to skid....
prob over thinking everything at this stage.

2forjoy

depends on type of cover you have . might be bonus protected or step-back. Your premium may increase all right until this is sorted and you will have to stay with your insurance company for at least 3 years before you can get quote from other providers

2forjoy

But dont worry you wont have to pay thousands in personal damage and this is why we pay insurance

vandriver

positivenote wrote: »

Am I likely to loose my NCB and pay thousands in personal damage? I haven't admitted responsibility to anyone as I would say it was the conditions and the jamming on of the car in front of me that caused me to skid....
prob over thinking everything at this stage.

You were driving in these conditions.Were you not told when learning to slow down and leave a bigger gap in bad weather?

Wheeliebin30

positivenote wrote: »

Am I likely to loose my NCB and pay thousands in personal damage? I haven't admitted responsibility to anyone as I would say it was the conditions and the jamming on of the car in front of me that caused me to skid....
prob over thinking everything at this stage.

Forget about that.

Doesn't matter about anything that happened in front of you, it was your fault for not leaving enough room for such scenario.

Just let insurance companies deal with it. At least noone died.

mikeoneilly

If your bonus is protected am i right in thinking the premium will still increase after a claim.

The base premium and NCB are separate issues?

positivenote

vandriver wrote: »

You were driving in these conditions.Were you not told when learning to slow down and leave a bigger gap in bad weather?

Yes I was and I thought the gap was sufficient enough, which it wasn't obviously.

run_Forrest_run

vandriver wrote: »

You were driving in these conditions.Were you not told when learning to slow down and leave a bigger gap in bad weather?

+1 and while others here are saying don't spend much time worrying about the insurance side of it please take something from this though, learn from mistakes and all that.

GM228

mikeoneilly wrote: »

If your bonus is protected am i right in thinking the premium will still increase after a claim.

The base premium and NCB are separate issues?

Correct.

positivenote

vandriver wrote: »

You were driving in these conditions.Were you not told when learning to slow down and leave a bigger gap in bad weather?

Yes I was and I thought the gap was sufficient enough, which it wasn't obviously.

positivenote

Thank advice one and all. Ca I just ask is it okay to drop my car to a repairer as I need to drive to work etc... or should I wait to here from the other drivers insurer etc

RustyNut

positivenote wrote: »

Thank advice one and all. Ca I just ask is it okay to drop my car to a repairer as I need to drive to work etc... or should I wait to here from the other drivers insurer etc

If you have fully comp your own insurance should look after your car as well as the other parties.

exaisle

positivenote wrote: »

Thank advice one and all. Ca I just ask is it okay to drop my car to a repairer as I need to drive to work etc... or should I wait to here from the other drivers insurer etc

Contact your insurance company about this. If you have comprehensive cover, the repairs to your car will be covered.

Hopefully the person taken away on the spinal board will be fine. Everything else is just plastic, metal and glass and in a few years it'll be all forgotten about.
Use the experience....leave a bigger gap and slow down in future.

Isambard

positivenote wrote: »

Yes I was and I thought the gap was sufficient enough, which it wasn't obviously.

Ignore that ****e....

goz83

Sorry about the accident.

Regarding the woman who may be injured, you just don't know what injury she may have sustained. For all you know, she could have a previous injury, which has been agitated, it could be shock, or it could a fresh injury. One way or another, my gut tells me that it will be a claim put in, but that's for your insurance company to deal with. As long as you were driving safely, you've got no guilt to carry.

I was rear ended 3 years ago. What seemed like a dull ache in my lower back at the time turned out to be a ruptured disc in my back and surgery a year and a half later. I'm still recovering and will never be 100% pain free. The insurance company called it a minor collision. B@stards.

Good Luck OP

Atlantic Dawn

Out of interest what brand were the tyres you have on your car?

positivenote

not sure of the brand of tyres to be honest. car isnt my own as mine is currently with the mechanic and I have been driving this 1.2l hatch back for th last week. In hindsight Im lucky i transferred my insurance across for the week as the transfer runs out tonight.

My main concern is the women in the other car if im honest and I just want this all to get sorted out as soon as possible and for there to be no major consequence.

I have reported the incident to my insurer, do I need to get in touch with her insurer now aswell?
Again thanks for all the advice, as Im lost as to what to do, who to call etc....

Sue Pa Key Pa

No, do not contact here insurer and if they contact you, refer them to your insurers. Do not get in to discussion with any other person (excluding Gardaí if it comes to that). You are obliged to provide the 3rd party with your name and insurance details, leave it at that

edburg

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

1. Report it to Gardai
2. Report it to your insurance.
3. Don't worry about it let the insurance companies sort it out amongst themselves.

This, its bit blunt lol but its what you should do.

Don't get involved with any personal contact between parties.

Your insurance contact will give you all info you need to answer questions. All I would say is whoever you contact talk to take there names and date n time you spoke with them. Anybody contacts you regarding it, then you just pass on these details.

MaceFace

I was in an accident recently enough with a 3rd party.

I learned some things the hard way (such as people are not always honest, but leaving that aside). This is what I will be doing if ever in an accident again:

1. Don't move your car unless it is absolutely certain who is at fault and it can't be disputed (e.g. being rear ended).
2. Check on other party
3. Call the local Gardai (not 999 unless an emergency) and seek their advice on whether you should wait for Garda to arrive.
4. Before moving the car, regardless of how clear cut the accident is, take videos and pictures of scene. Take pictures of damage to your car and other vehicles involved. Look for anything that may be a contributory factor (obstacle on the road which may have instigated the accident).
5. Seek independent witnesses - if they saw something, ask for their details.
6. While waiting on the Gardai, write down everything. Sketch pictures of the scene and road. Also, call your insurance company if you may need a tow truck or advice on what to do.
7. If the Gardai don't arrive in sufficient time, or you both agree not to hang around for them, once you depart the scene, call your insurance company if you have not already. Seek their advice.
8. Use google maps, print out the scene and record what happened using it.
9. If you are to blame, be honest. Better to be out of pocket and know you are honest than having a few bob knowing for the rest of your life that you stole from someone after putting them through a very traumatic experience that was no fault of their own. Always be honest.
10. Accept that if you are partially or fully to blame, or if the other side is lying and you can't prove otherwise, you will be out of pocket, accept it, accept your premium will go up, and put it behind you. Less money is better than more stress.

EDIT: Oh, and yes, great advice - don't speak to the other insurer. Remember that all insurance companies only care about minimizing what they have to pay out. The other parties insurer is looking for ways to get your insurer (i.e. you) to pay the costs.

And, imo, every single car on the road should have a working dashcam. A €50 investment that may end up saving you €1000's. Don't wait to be wronged by someone else to make the decision.

Sue Pa Key Pa

Excellent post MaceFace. If both parties to every accident followed that advice, we would all be paying less insurance. Sadly, the majority do not.

coolbeans

MaceFace wrote: »

I was in an accident recently enough with a 3rd party.

I learned some things the hard way (such as people are not always honest, but leaving that aside). This is what I will be doing if ever in an accident again:

1. Don't move your car unless it is absolutely certain who is at fault and it can't be disputed (e.g. being rear ended).
2. Check on other party
3. Call the local Gardai (not 999 unless an emergency) and seek their advice on whether you should wait for Garda to arrive.
4. Before moving the car, regardless of how clear cut the accident is, take videos and pictures of scene. Take pictures of damage to your car and other vehicles involved. Look for anything that may be a contributory factor (obstacle on the road which may have instigated the accident).
5. Seek independent witnesses - if they saw something, ask for their details.
6. While waiting on the Gardai, write down everything. Sketch pictures of the scene and road. Also, call your insurance company if you may need a tow truck or advice on what to do.
7. If the Gardai don't arrive in sufficient time, or you both agree not to hang around for them, once you depart the scene, call your insurance company if you have not already. Seek their advice.
8. Use google maps, print out the scene and record what happened using it.
9. If you are to blame, be honest. Better to be out of pocket and know you are honest than having a few bob knowing for the rest of your life that you stole from someone after putting them through a very traumatic experience that was no fault of their own. Always be honest.
10. Accept that if you are partially or fully to blame, or if the other side is lying and you can't prove otherwise, you will be out of pocket, accept it, accept your premium will go up, and put it behind you. Less money is better than more stress.

EDIT: Oh, and yes, great advice - don't speak to the other insurer. Remember that all insurance companies only care about minimizing what they have to pay out. The other parties insurer is looking for ways to get your insurer (i.e. you) to pay the costs.

And, imo, every single car on the road should have a working dashcam. A €50 investment that may end up saving you €1000's. Don't wait to be wronged by someone else to make the decision.

Point 1 is wrong. It's highly likely that people will disagree over culpability. If your point is brought to its logical conclusion people who crash on the highway can block the road to everyone else by not moving their cars. That would of course be ridiculous.

TLDR: take a pic, and move your cars sharpish. You can't be blocking the road to thousands of road users over every collision.

honda boi

MaceFace wrote: »

I was in an accident recently enough with a 3rd party.

I learned some things the hard way (such as people are not always honest, but leaving that aside). This is what I will be doing if ever in an accident again:

1. Don't move your car unless it is absolutely certain who is at fault and it can't be disputed (e.g. being rear ended).
2. Check on other party
3. Call the local Gardai (not 999 unless an emergency) and seek their advice on whether you should wait for Garda to arrive.
4. Before moving the car, regardless of how clear cut the accident is, take videos and pictures of scene. Take pictures of damage to your car and other vehicles involved. Look for anything that may be a contributory factor (obstacle on the road which may have instigated the accident).
5. Seek independent witnesses - if they saw something, ask for their details.
6. While waiting on the Gardai, write down everything. Sketch pictures of the scene and road. Also, call your insurance company if you may need a tow truck or advice on what to do.
7. If the Gardai don't arrive in sufficient time, or you both agree not to hang around for them, once you depart the scene, call your insurance company if you have not already. Seek their advice.
8. Use google maps, print out the scene and record what happened using it.
9. If you are to blame, be honest. Better to be out of pocket and know you are honest than having a few bob knowing for the rest of your life that you stole from someone after putting them through a very traumatic experience that was no fault of their own. Always be honest.
10. Accept that if you are partially or fully to blame, or if the other side is lying and you can't prove otherwise, you will be out of pocket, accept it, accept your premium will go up, and put it behind you. Less money is better than more stress.

EDIT: Oh, and yes, great advice - don't speak to the other insurer. Remember that all insurance companies only care about minimizing what they have to pay out. The other parties insurer is looking for ways to get your insurer (i.e. you) to pay the costs.

And, imo, every single car on the road should have a working dashcam. A €50 investment that may end up saving you €1000's. Don't wait to be wronged by someone else to make the decision.

Great post
Wish I had done that after my accident last year.
Learned the hard way that people will bulls**t after the accident and play the innocent card!

coolbeans

Isambard wrote: »

positivenote wrote: »

Yes I was and I thought the gap was sufficient enough, which it wasn't obviously.

Ignore that ****e....

Don't igmore it, it's not ****e despite what isambard would have you believe. If you run into the back of someone you'll be judged as not having left a safe distance b/w yourself and the car in front. Prepare to be held at least partially responsible for the collision.

Well intentioned posts that are factually wrong help nobody.